Here’s my take of the passage of the bailout bill. Everyone, have a great weekend. JNS
Congress
No Bailout Vote Tomorrow?
A senior Democrat House aide in a position to know tells me they are still short on GOP votes on the bailout, er, rescue plan. Unless more names of Republicans committed to switching their votes are produced by tomorrow the vote will be postponed till the weekend to give Bush and the GOP more time to convince their members to vote for …
Bailout Second Thoughts
Here’s the latest from me on the financial crisis. An interesting aside: both Gallegly and Murphy were angry at the role politics, particularly presidential politics, played in process so far. When asked if they meant John McCain’s involvement, both were quick to praise McCain for standing up for House Republicans. But nor were …
Senate to Vote on Bailout Wednesday
Looks like the Senate got sick of waiting for the House to get its act together. From Harry Reid’s office:
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid tonight announced a unanimous consent agreement to move forward on legislation to stabilize the economy, provide middle class tax relief, create jobs, and invest in alternative energy. Tomorrow
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Write Your Rep?
First there were hundreds of calls. Now sources tell me that the House website has been crashing since yesterday afternoon as groups from the left and right have launched “write your rep” campaigns opposing the bill while business groups have started similar pushes to support the measure. Just in case there’s a member left with no …
Bailout: What Happened
Here’s what happened and the latest on the talks, or rather lack thereof. I’m starting to feel like we’re in a Royal Bank of Scotland commercial, only there’s no one who actually saves the day. And, of course, RBS’s plate is full right now.
Inside Today’s House GOP Vote on the Bailout
Here’s the latest from a looong weekend of talks. The bill is expected to pass the House today and could pass the Senate as well, though they’re racing against the Jewish Holidays, which start at sundown. If they don’t make it, final passage will likely come Wednesday.
The House vote will be a bit of a nail bite. Though, with the …
Self-Fulfilling Prophecy
Congress is now racing against the clock. The deadline? The opening bell at 9:30am Monday morning. Many members have lamented that Paulson and Bernanke’s warnings of doom-and-gloom are self-fulfilling prophecies: there is little chance that a collapse wouldn’t happen in Congress doesn’t pass something. Here’s the latest from me …
Why the GOP Needed McCain Back
This morning you would’ve been hard pressed to find a Republican member of Congress supporting the bail out despite five days of heavy pressure from the likes of Dick Cheney, Henry Paulson, Jim Nussle and Josh Bolten. The caucus was in a virtual revolt over being forced to vote for a bill that pretty much stands against much of their own …
Bail Out Odds and Ends
Some odds and ends floating around the Hill today.
First, read along as our brave colleague Barbara Kiviat liveblogs Paulson and Bernanke’s hearing with the House Banking Committee today.
Second, the House GOP is seriously balking at the bail out and without them it’s going to be very tough getting anything through. As Tom Cole, …
More Hot Air
A webstory today about all the hot air in the energy debate. Also, interestingly, a scoop from Politico’s Martin Kady II and Patrick O’Connor about how Pelosi behind the scenes is encouraging her members to defect, banking on passing legislation next year. Dana Milbank has loads more color on the House protest. And here’s a little …
Senate Constipation
I don’t know if Chuck Grassley’s been having digestion issues, but he rates my quote of the day. From the Senate floor this morning talking about how the Dems plan on doing a package of popular bi-partisan tax extenders outside of regular order:
The Senate is constipated. This legislative body needs a function, a laxative.
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Congress Next Year
I was asked not long ago on CNN which candidate would better end the gridlock on Capitol Hill. I replied Obama, of course, because Democrats are likely to control both chambers and intra-party gridlock is always less time consuming than inter-party fights: witness the 80+ cloture motions Reid has filed so far this session. But, …